Lollivan
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
Brendon Jones
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
Staci Frederick
Blistering performances.
boirin
Why this series was dropped after only one season is one of those mysteries of behind-the-scenes network politics. As well as providing reliably enjoyable entertainment, it gave us tight-knit plots, great dialogue, well-established character actors, lots of off-beat (albeit sometimes corny) humour, a sizzling onscreen chemistry between the leads and an overall innovative approach to television - in its editing and creative style, and its trailblazing female protagonist. On top of that, the lead actress, Anne Francis, scored a Golden Globe best actress award. So ... it was dropped after one season. Why? For heaven sake why?Yeah, I've read some stuff about the network ratings blunder of showing it a Friday night when most of its potential viewers would have been out for the evening, and producer Aaron Spelling's comparative cost decision of importing The Avengers rather than going to a second season.Whatever. At least we are left with a gorgeous, but sadly limited, TV feast of 30 episodes to look back on.
clifforddancampbell
I just went down to my local video store and rented this series that I read about. After viewing all the episodes I can honestly say that the series exceeded my expectations. Anne Francis' role as Honey West is the perfect combination of Kate Jackson's Sabrina Duncan and Jacklyn Smith's Kelly Garret from Charlie's Angels. Fans of the Russ Meyer movie Faster Pussycat Kill, Kill should look closely for Lori Williams. She has two uncredited roles in the 1st and 7th episodes wearing bikini's on both occasions. This show was truly ahead of its time and even though the idea was stolen from the Avengers, Arron Spelling sprinkled it with his own touch on TV magic. The episodes keep your attention right until the end and the acting and fight choreography are superb. Check it out if you can.
aimless-46
The "Honey West" 4 single-sided disc DVD release contains all 30 (half-hour) B & W episodes, which ran on ABC during the 1965-66 television season. Also included are some vintage commercials and several promos for other ABC shows. The set is nicely made from high quality recordings of the original episodes. If you are unfamiliar with the show it is like a blend of Honor Blackman's "Avengers" episodes and Gene Barry's "Burke's Law" stuff. In fact, the title character and her associate Sam Bolt (John Ericson) had been first introduced to television audiences in the "Who Killed the Jackpot" episode of "Burke's Law". It did not approach the imaginative whimsy of Diana Rigg's "Avenger" episodes. It was played pretty straight, putting it a bit behind the times as shows like "The Wild Wild West" and "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." were following "The Avengers" down the self-parody road. This odd disconnect was one reason the series never made it past its first season. Another problem (obvious at the time even to a pre-teen like myself) was the casting of a high mileage actress like Anne Francis in the title role. Francis had been tantalizing eye candy back in the 1950's (see "Forbidden Planet" and "Susan Slept Here"). Unfortunately by 1965 she looked like my Cub Scout den mother, but with too much make-up and a much more tacky wardrobe. Poor Anne had gotten a little chunky by this time and you felt sorry for her trying to go after the same demographic as the svelte and much younger looking Diana Rigg. And they wonder why these things get weak ratings. The half-hour format also hurt the series as there was not sufficient time for either character development or interesting misdirection. The production design was pretty basic and generally low budget. They did manage a few gimmicks like a pet ocelot (named Bruce), high tech gadgets, and a nicely understated attraction between Honey and Sam. Honey is more Cathy Gale than Mrs. Peel, using her feminine wiles and a few judo moves. Francis and her stunt coordinator were not up to Mrs. Peel's fighting skills so Honey mostly resorts to a gun. The action sequences are generally pretty lame, so you can imagine that after a few tries at staging fights the producers decided that it would be a good idea to give Honey marksmanship ability. Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
bobbywo
Is anyone aware that the man who worked on Special Effects for Honey West is the same man who did the Special Effects for the Star Trek series just a year later? The man's name was Jim Rugg. He was my Pops. He also worked on such shows as The Rifleman, Burkes Law, Broken Arrow, Mission Impossible, Cannon, Barnaby Jones and Hawaii Five-O. He worked on such movies as The Wizard of Oz, River of No Return, Bus Stop, The Day the Earth Stood Still, On the Riviera and Silent Running. Pops had a pyrotechnic license and he made a living blowing everything up from cars to boats to airplanes... you name it. He was most proud of the fact that in no show that he was in charge of did anyone ever get hurt. My Dad is gone now but he was the best in the business... just ask anyone who ever worked with him.
